ABSTRACT
Trust is a bedrock element in Erik Erikson’s theory of development and, as such, is said to be essential for carrying out human interchanges: economic, romantic, and therapeutic. Persons less likely to express trust include those with lower incomes, those who are younger, and those in poor health. Along with its being an essential element for commerce and the maintenance of social institutions, trust is also basic to more intimate interpersonal relations. Seek out and become familiar with interpersonal trust scales, e.g., the Rotter Interpersonal Trust Scale, many versions of which are available gratis online. Save time and experiment with the three-item Interpersonal Trust Short Scale. Personal checks were exchanged, and pub owners—nodes of trust in their communities who were well acquainted with the habits of their customers and could accurately judge their trustworthiness—became intermediaries and facilitators of the process.
